Nets Push Panic Button, Fire Bench Boss Avery Johnson

Weeks after Brooklyn Nets head coach Avery Johnson won the NBA Eastern Conference Coach Of The Month Award for the month of November; the franchise dismissed their former bench boss Thursday afternoon. “The New York Post” has reported that Team Owner Mikhail Prokhorov, announced the decision in a statement. The Russian billionaire wrote “The Nets ownership would like to express thanks to Avery for his efforts and to wish him every success in the future.”

After taking the team to a record of 11-4 in the first month of the campaign; Brooklyn has a 3-10 record so far for the month of December. The team was back at the .500 mark after losing to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. According to reports, assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo, will assume head coach duties; although it is not yet known whether it would be a short-term move or he would run the team for the balance of the campaign.

Speculation will grow that statements by starting point guard Deron Williams, criticizing Johnson’s offense last week, may have led to the coach’s ouster. Williams told members of the media last week, that he believes his below average scoring numbers, were a direct result of Johnson’s offense. The coach leaves the Nets with a record 60-116 while running the bench.